Journalist accused of spying stands trial in Iran

Tehran, April 14 (IANS) An Iranian-American journalist accused of spying in Iran stood the first session of her trial this week, a judiciary spokesman told a news conference here Tuesday. The first trial of Roxana Saberi was carried out behind closed doors here Monday, Ali Jamshidi was quoted by ISNA news agency as saying.

“The court’s verdict will probably be announced in a couple of weeks,” he added.

The 31-year-old journalist, who has worked for BBC, the American public radio network NPR and the TV network Fox News, has been in prison since January on charges of espionage for the US.

Sarberi was originally accused of buying alcohol which is illegal in the Islamic country, but last week Iranian prosecutors charged here with spying for the US.